- This event has passed.
Ecopolis: Hope Needs Action (Brussels)
About the event:
With a mix of panels, workshops, performances, and more, Ecopolis fosters cross-border and multi-lingual dialogues on the ecological challenges of our time. The 2024 edition is entitled “Hope Needs Action” and seeks to turn climate concerns into commitment. Featuring a wide range of authors, scientists, academics, practitioners, activists, artists, and policymakers, this event will answer to the simultaneous need for deep reflection and collective action to ensure a truly just transition in Europe and the world.
To this end, Ecopolis aims specifically to bring together different movements and thereby contribute to a flourishing and diverse European public space – fostering connections between the ecological movement, fights for social justice, decolonisation and anti-racism initiatives, feminist activism, and more. This year, GEF will contribute by hosting a stream of sessions touching on some of our core interests, including energy security, a post-growth Europe, and democratic participation.
Project background:
Ecopolis is an annual meeting point for anyone concerned about a fair and sustainable future. Because ecological challenges know no borders, this event is international, diverse, and interactive. For GEF, it is a key moment to connect and inspire green-minded citizens, activists, NGOs, and other stakeholders and to provide them with the tools, concepts, and energy to fight for a better Europe and world.
Programme:
GEF will be hosting a dedicated stream of sessions as part of this event at different locations .
10h45-12h15, European Quarter – Lobby Tour
A walk organised and guided by the Corporate Europe Observatory. The tour guide will be Hans van Scharen.
13h-14h30, De Markten, zolder – Workshop : Climate Citizen Assembly (FR)
- Merlijn de Rijcke (coordinator climate citizen panel Brussels)
- Elze Vermaas (Oikos staff member)
15h-16h30, De Markten, zolder – Workshop : Climate Citizen Assembly (NL)
- Merlijn de Rijcke (coordinator climate citizen panel Brussels)
- Elze Vermaas (Oikos staff member)
15h-16h30, De Markten, spiegel room – Is the energy transition a smokescreen?
- Jean-Baptiste Fressoz (science, technology and environmental historian)
- Jorrit Smit (researcher)
- Chloé Mikolajczak (activist)
Moderator: Alice Hubbard (GEF’s Strategy Manager)
17h-18h30, De Markten, spiegelzaal – No climate solution without democratic innovations
- Sophie Howe (first commissioner for future generations)
- Eva Rovers (founder of Bureau Burgerberaad)
- two participants of the Brussels Climate Citizens Panel.
Moderator: Tine Hens (historian, author and journalist)
13h-14h30, Muntpunt, Literair Salon – How to keep democracy alive?
- Erica Benner (political philosopher and author)
- Hans van Scharen (Corporate Europe Observatory)
Moderator: Elze Vermaas (Oikos contributor and author)
15h-16h30, Muntpunt, Literair Salon – Book presentation : Enough
- Lara Ferrante (Oikos employee and co-author of Enough)
- Dirk Holemans (Oikos coordinator and co-author of Enough)
These are solely the session hosted by GEF, but there are many more ! You may find the complete program on the partner’s website.
Practicalities:
Date: November 9th
Location: Brussels, Belgium
Language: English, Dutch, and French
Tickets and registration: (closed)
This event is co-organised by the Green European Foundation with the support of Oikos and with the financial support of the European Parliament to the Green European Foundation. The European Parliament is not responsible for the content of this event.
